(Natural News) Health insurance giant Aetna recently went under fire as it inadvertently disclosed the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status of some of its members through a letter sent to some 12,000 people.
The letters, which were sent out on July 28, originally meant to inform members of a change in pharmacy benefits. However, the texts seen through a small window on the envelop showed the patients’ names and suggestions about changes in filling up prescriptions.
“People have been devastated. We’ve had a number of people tell us they had chosen not to disclose their HIV status to family members — but this is how their family members found out. People with any private health conditions can just imagine, whether you’re being treated for cancer or a behavioral condition, just imagine having that flat out on the front of an envelope for anyone to see. It should be a grave concern to everyone,” Sally Friedman, legal director at Legal Action Center told Stat News online.
